“Will this do?” he asked.
“This will be grand,” said DCI Milling. They went back into the living area together. DCI Milling went up to Mr. and Mrs. Meakin.
“I’d like to start with the two of you, one at a time,” he said.
They looked at each other. Richard nodded at Myrtle and he stood up.
“I’ll go first, Inspector,” he said.
DCI Milling nodded. “Follow me.”
Frances and Alfred had stayed in the kitchen. DCI Milling closed the door behind them once they entered to give them privacy. It was doubtful you could hear much through the door unless you had your ear to it.
Richard Meakin sat down with his back to the door and DCI Milling came around to the opposite side and sat next to Frances. Alfred had pulled the fourth chair around and slightly behind Lady Marmalade to her left.
“I’m DCI Milling,” he said, “and this is Lady Marmalade and her butler Mr. Donahue.”
“You’ll forgive me for asking, but why is she here?” asked Richard Meakin.
“She’s helping with the case, that’s why,” said DCI Milling. “Now you are Richard Meakin, correct?”
Meakin nodded.
“And who are you with here?”
Meakin looked strangely at the Inspector.
“My wife, of course.”
“And her name is?”
“Myrtle.”
“When did you and Myrtle arrive, Richard?”
“We arrived on Friday afternoon.”
“Do you have a more precise time?”
“4pm.”
“From where?”
“We came up from London.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I have a week’s leave from the navy and my wife and I thought it would be nice to spend some time up here for our anniversary.”
“And how long have you been married?”
“Tomorrow will be five years.”
“Congratulations,” said Frances.
Richard looked at her and smiled.
“Thank you.”
“And which ship are you attached to?” asked DCI Milling.
“I’m not with a ship, Inspector, I’m attached to the Singapore office.”
“And your wife, what does she do?”
“She’s a typist in London for the Royal Navy.”
Alfred and Lady Marmalade weren’t finding this line of questioning particularly interesting.
“How long were you planning on staying?” asked Frances.
“We leave on Wednesday afternoon. I have to report back on Friday morning. Report back to London, not Singapore.”
Frances nodded.
“Do you know when the other gentleman arrived? The Frenchman?” she asked.
Richard nodded.
“Myrtle and I were just coming back from a walk when we saw him arrive. That was yesterday, Saturday. It was between 3 and 330pm I should think. Pearl Nisbet serves afternoon tea at around 330 and he arrived just before.”
“Did he come on the bus?”
“No, he was dropped off in a car. Similar to the sorts that the police use.”
“Did you see who was driving it?”
“No, I’m afraid I didn’t get a very good look. All I can say is he was dressed in a suit and he had dark, somewhat wavy hair.”
“Dark brown or black?”
“Closer to black I should think.”
“How many bags did he come with?”
“I just saw him bring one in.”
“Did you happen to get a license number?”
Richard looked up and off to the corner of the ceiling. He shook his head.
“Can’t say for certain. Maybe a 3. A T or a Y.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m probably guessing.
“And when did you meet him the first time?”
“That same day. He came down to enjoy some tea and sandwiches. He was quite chatty at the time.”
“About himself?”
“No, not so much. More interested in us and who all was here.”
“Did you get his name?”
“Félix Delastelle. Nice chap, very friendly as I said. He’s just recently left France. At the end of last year he said, to escape the Germans. His English is impeccable, but with an accent of course.”
Frances nodded.
“Did he say how long he was going to be here?”
“Said he’d take his time to see the sights and then head north. He wanted the peace and quiet. He said he was likely here for the week though.”
“Had you met him anywhere before?” asked DCI Milling.
Richard shook his head.
“No, I’ve never seen him before yesterday,” he said.
“Tell me about the dead woman,” said DCI Milling.
“There’s not much to tell, Inspector. She arrived late last night. I think it was around 11pm. I was up listening to news on the radio just before bed…”
“Were you up alone?”
“No, we were all up. Well, I should say the men were up. I don’t know where Pearl was, and Myrtle was up in our bedroom. Probably asleep by that time.”
“So you, Félix and Elmer were up then?”
Richard nodded.
“That’s quite right.”
“And you were all listening to the news?”
“Yes. Félix and I were playing gin. Elmer had a deck of cards and Félix’s quite a good player.”
“Tell me about the woman,” said DCI Milling.
“Yes, right. She arrived at about 11 as I said. I was going to go to bed shortly after the news. There was quite a determined banging on the door. Elmer was listening to the news and reading a paper. He got up to answer it and invited her in.”
“How did she seem?”
“She seemed fine, Inspector.”
“I think DCI Milling means, how did she appear. Did she seem nervous or happy? Anything like that?” asked Frances.
“I see. Well, it was a cool night so she was flushed, but she seemed warm enough. She was wearing her jacket she had on this morning. She seemed nervous and unsure of herself, but I put that down to arriving so late at night without a reservation.”
“Did you find it odd she didn’t have a reservation?” asked DCI Milling.
“Well yes, of course. But then we’re in the middle of a war and a lot of things strike me as odd. I remember Elmer asking her that before he took her to the back room. It’s just on the opposite side of the hallway.”
“And what did she say?”
“She said it was a last minute opportunity and that in any event the conductor at the station said that the Nisbets weren’t often fully booked.”
“I see,” said DCI Milling. “That’s still quite a gamble I should think.”
Richard didn’t say anything to that.
“Did you hear them discuss anything else?” asked Frances.
“Nothing more than you probably already know. That she was up from London to escape the racket of the war. She was only staying one night.”
“That seems strange to me, Mr. Meakin,” said DCI Milling, “that a woman up to escape the racket from London would only stay one night and arrive late at that.”
Richard didn’t say anything. DCI Milling raise his eyebrows at him.
“Well yes, of course it seems strange in hindsight now that the poor girl has been found dead. And yes, it seemed somewhat odd at the time too, but for heaven’s sake, Inspector, I’m up here for my anniversary, not to be a witness to a murder I didn’t know would happen.”
“I know this is upsetting,” said Frances.
“It bloody well is,” said Richard, visibly flushed. “My wife is beside herself and wants to go back tomorrow.”
“But please don’t misunderstand us, we don’t suspect you, but any small morsels of information you can offer can often be helpful in finding out who did this,” said Frances. “So if you can remember anything at all. Even the smallest bits, it might help.”
Richard sighed and put his hands through his hair.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve just never been this close to something this terrible.”
Frances nodded, and waited for a while.
“Was there anything else you can remember from her last night?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“No, not really. A young, if you’ll forgive me, plain woman arrived late last night. She said she was in from London just for the night to escape the noise of the war. She seemed appropriately dressed, had a suitcase and went into the back room with Elmer. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her except for her seeming a little frightened. But then, as you can imagine, it was late at night and she was traveling alone.”
“Did Elmer ask her how she was?”
“Yes, but again, she just said it had been a long night, it was late and she was tired. Something to that effect.”
“Did you see her again that evening?” asked Frances.
“No. A few minutes later she went up to her room followed by Elmer and then Félix and I not long after that.”
“What time?” asked DCI Milling.
“I can’t say for certain. The news had finished. That usually finishes by ten past the hour. Probably no later than 1115pm.”
“Did you see her again after that?” asked Frances.
“I did. She was down for breakfast at about 8 this morning. She still seemed nervous, and she didn’t say much.”
“How did she seem nervous.”
“She was fidgety and she didn’t hold eye contact with any of us. I said good morning to her and all I got was a feeble smile.”
“Did she eat?”
“Yes, she had eggs and toast and some cheese. Then she got back up and went upstairs…”
“To her room?” asked DCI Milling.
“I don’t know, Inspector, I didn’t follow her. About ten or perhaps fifteen minutes later she came back downstairs and walked out the front door. That was the last I saw of her until. Well, until you know, the body was found.”
“And she didn’t say anything before she left.”
“No, it was quite sudden and abrupt.”
“And what time would that have been?”
“I should think around 9am.”
“And what were your plans for the day, Richard?” asked Frances.
“Myrtle and I were going to go for a walk before tea. I was waiting for Myrtle downstairs as she was getting ready.”
“And where was Félix at that time?”
“Not sure. He was upstairs somewhere. His bedroom, the bathroom. I couldn’t say for certain.”
“Did Mary say anything to Félix last night or this morning?”
“No. Like I said, she went up to her room last night and then this morning she ate in silence. After the tepid smile I got from wishing her a good morning, I think Félix couldn’t have been bothered.”
“Did you get her name?” asked Frances.
“Not from her. I heard her tell Elmer her name last night. Mary Sorrows. Quite an appropriate name, in that she did seem somewhat sorrowful in hindsight I suppose.”
“When did you learn that she had been murdered?” asked DCI Milling.
“When Elmer came back to tell Pearl to call the police. Close to ten I think it was. Myrtle was back down by then.”
“And Félix?”
“He was downstairs. He’d been asking me where she was. I thought that was odd.”
“And?”
“I told him she’d just left. It was odd though…”
“What was odd?”
“Well, he said he needed to go out then too. He got up to put on his coat, and that’s when Elmer came in with the news.”
“And did you go out to help?” asked Frances.
“Not at first. I stayed here with Myrtle and Pearl. Elmer and Félix went out. We went out a little later once you were all here.”
Frances looked at DCI Milling. He nodded at her.
“Thank you, Mr. Meakin. Would you mind asking your wife to join us. And don’t mention anything to her until after we’ve had a chance to speak with her.”
Richard Meakin got up and nodded his understanding. He closed the door after he left.
“I’m beginning to wonder if she didn’t know she was being followed?” said Frances.
“It does seem that something was going on with this poor girl. My question is why was she coming to see you instead of Scotland Yard in London if she was in such trouble as it appears she was in?” said DCI Milling.
“Hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of that soon enough,” said Frances, as the door opened and Myrtle Meakin walked in.
NINE
Musical Chairs
MYRTLE Meakin was a tall, attractive woman with a slim figure. She was likely close to her husband’s height and taller than both Lady Marmalade and DCI Milling but she seemed as nervous as a church mouse stealing cheese. She was dressed in walking pants and a cardigan. She had shoulder length brown, wavy hair the same color as her husband’s.
“Please sit down, Mrs. Meakin,” said DCI Milling. “I’m DCI Milling from the Cumbria Constabulary and this is Lady Frances Marmalade and Mr. Alfred Donahue who are helping on the case.”
Frances decided to interject from the very beginning.
“I know this must be awful for you, but any help you can offer. Even the smallest thing you might remember or have noticed could end up being extremely helpful,” she said.
Myrtle nodded and fidgeted with her hands in her lap.
“Can you tell me when you arrived here?” asked DCI Milling.
“On Friday afternoon at about 4pm, I think,” she offered an eager smile. DCI Milling was not smiling.
“And what did you and your husband do yesterday all day?”
“Well, we had breakfast at around 8am and then we decided to go for an afternoon walk. We left just after lunch at about 1pm and we got back just before 330pm I should think. That’s when afternoon tea is.”
“And where was this walk you took?”
“Through the trails here, down towards the Lake and then back.”
“And on your way back did you see anyone?”
Myrtle shook her head and looked at her hands in her lap.
“Wait, yes we did. We saw Félix, as we were arriving so was he.”
“That was at the end of your walk?”
Myrtle nodded.
“Tell me everything about how he arrived,” said DCI Milling.
“Well, we were just coming into the main roadway of the Nisbets’ home here and he drove in. Well, actually, he was driven in and dropped off.”
“And this was close to 330pm?”
“Yes.”
“And what did the car look like? Who was driving it? And how many cases did he have?”
“It was a black car, Inspector, similar to yours and he was dropped off by a friend I assume, and he had one suitcase with him.”
“Did you happen to see the license plate?”
Myrtle paused for a moment and looked down at the table.
“I think there was a 3… and perhaps a Y in it.”
She shook her head, “I’m afraid I can’t say for certain I didn’t take notice.”
“That’s quite alright. Did you happen to see what his friend looked like?”
“I barely noticed, we were just walking back as they drove up. But he had black hair and he was wearing a suit.”
“And when did you see him again?”
“Félix?” DCI Milling nodded. “At afternoon tea. He came down shortly after he had signed in and dropped off his suitcase in his room.”
“Tell me about him. What’s his full name for example?”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Inspector, Félix didn’t do it. He just escaped the Nazis in France. He came over late last year and he’s now trying to escape the racket of London and the war here too. He’s heading up north soon enough for peace and quiet.”
“What’s his nam
e?” asked DCI Milling, unmoved by her character witness.
“Félix Delastelle.”
“How do you know he couldn’t have done it? Were you with him at all times this morning?”
“Well no, but my husband was.”
“Why are you here, Mrs. Meakin?” asked DCI Milling.
“I’m supposed to be celebrating my fifth wedding anniversary, Inspector.”
Frances could tell that Myrtle was beginning to get upset. She put her hand on the Inspector’s forearm and leaned in towards Myrtle.
“I imagine this is very upsetting,” said Frances.
Myrtle nodded and her eyes misted up but she didn’t cry.
“When you were out and about on your walk yesterday did you see anyone looking out of place?”
Myrtle looked down at her lap and thought for a while. Then she shook her head.
“No, we came upon no one yesterday on our walk. And on the roads there were perhaps just two other cars driving by other than the one that Félix came in. I’m afraid we saw nothing out of the ordinary. But then it wasn’t the best day for a walk. The clouds were oppressively low to the ground, and it was quite damp and chilly.”
“But it wasn’t raining, was it?” asked Frances.
“No, though we did come upon a spot of drizzle briefly.”
DCI Milling was wondering what the purpose of this conversation was about.
“And what about Félix?” asked Frances. “What did he do yesterday afternoon?”
“Well, he had tea with all of us. Elmer and Pearl served tea and joined us for it. They’re a lovely couple and wonderful hosts. Félix and Richard played gin rummy after tea for a while. After that Félix went up to his room until supper when he joined us again. Richard and I lounged about downstairs. I went up shortly before supper to get ready myself. After supper Félix went out for a short walk. He said he wanted to get some fresh air.”
“How long was he out for?” asked Frances.
“Less than an hour I should think. He was back by 9pm and I don’t think he would have left much before 8.”
“And after that?”
“After that I went upstairs to bed. I left the men downstairs. Félix and Richard were playing card games again and listening to the wireless. Pearl was in the kitchen and Elmer was nodding off in his chair.”
“So you don’t know when Mary arrived?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything last night. I’m a heavy sleeper, my Lady. This morning Richard filled me in on this strange woman who had arrived very late last night at just around 11pm. He told me her name was Mary Sorrows and that she was just up from London for the night. Quite strange.”
The Golf, Cheese and Chess Society Page 5
